Doris Troy – Another Look
Some artists remain obscure & a select few fly under the radar. The late R&B singer Doris Troy had a hit in 1963 with “Just One Look,” but Troy never ascended to the higher echelons of Mary Wells, Diana Ross, Nina Simone, Dionne Warwick & later disco vocalists like Donna Summer & Gloria Gaynor. Troy had the respect of peers, the pipes & style. She may have been the victim of a time with a glut of releases that infested the airwaves.
She’s in good company though. Timi Yuro (“Hurt”) suffered through accolades for her powerful soulful voice but just a handful of hits. Doris wasn’t a novelty artist like Shirley Ellis, Millie Small, or Little Eva. She was a serious R&B singer. She had a moderately successful career as a backup singer & nightclub singer. But no headline trip to Las Vegas.
This 13-cut reissue collects pieces that are rare & hard to find – all worthy of another listen since many are some of the best, most rousing sides in Ms. Troy’s songbook. There are multiple original producers involved but this reissue, produced with care by David Nathan & Cheryl Pawelski finds Another Look (Drops March 15-RuJac/Omnivore Recordings/61:00) a fine place to visit for the uninitiated who will find reasons to listen again to Doris’ vocal power & class.
They weren’t major hits but were indeed quality performances. This CD tries to correct that oversight & succeeds. Each song is excellently captured with finesse. Maybe Doris should’ve recorded some Laura Nyro compositions & a few Tom Waits & Randy Newman ballads since her forte would’ve been better suited toward a Nina Simone genre (it seems she tried in 1970 with “So Far.” She recorded excellent stuff for The Beatles’ Apple Records with an all-star cast & not disco).
She tackled Don Henley & Glenn Frey’s “Lyin’ Eyes” (here in a short & long version). Better direction would have solidified Doris’ oeuvre. She sings wonderfully on “It’s All In the Game,” but it’s done disco style when it should’ve been smokier & jazzier. That’s where her golden ability was. A more Nina Simone with creamer exploration may have benefited her career. The disco work was well-performed but that was an era of glut – lots of shots taken at that target.
I always liked Doris Troy. I always thought she deserved a brighter spotlight. The success Ms. Troy enjoyed was embraced by many of her fans & admirably by her peers. This is a good starting point for those not familiar.
Highlights – “Can’t Hold On,” “Another Look,” “Lyin’ Eyes,” “Give God Glory,” “You Got Me, Baby,” the excellent “What’cha Gonna Do About It (1980 version & Remix) & “Can’t Hold On” (12”).
B&W image courtesy of Gilles Petard/Redferns. 8pp liner note insert included. CD @ Target + https://omnivorerecordings.com/shop/another-look/